The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest via ‘this link’ is 31 October 2026.
Please complete a separate form for each project.
South West Wales has a regional growth plan, our Regional Economic Delivery Plan, which sets out our key missions based on a thorough socio-economic analysis and understanding of the advantages and challenges in our region. The Regional Economic Delivery Plan was designed in advance of the launch of recent funding programmes to ensure a sound understanding of needs and opportunities in advance of funding coming on stream, to ensure that programmes and projects are evidence, not funding-led.
The Local Growth Fund presents a great opportunity to invest in projects that will move our strategic aims forward and improve the conditions for sustainable economic growth in our region. The programme is squarely aimed at increasing economic growth, increased productivity and investment in economically disadvantaged places. The programme is managed by the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC), specifically the Economic Wellbeing strand of work.
Welsh Government have set out their vision for the use of the LGF as follows:
Priority 1: More productive and competitive businesses
Objective 1.1: Creation and growth of high-potential start-ups, spinouts, and social enterprises – including from under-represented groups.
Objective 1.2: Increasing capital investment in high growth potential businesses to support productivity growth.
Objective 1.3: Increase levels of investment in RD&I capacity, exploitation and diffusion in businesses and research organisations.
Priority 2: Increasing skills and supporting people into work
Objective 2.1: Reduce levels of economic inactivity, notably among young people, disabled people, women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Objective 2.2: Enhance workforce skills through flexible, demand-led education and training aligned with needs of high-growth and regionally important sectors.
Priority 3: Improving regional infrastructure
Objective 3.1: Unlock investment in strategic sites and premises.
Objective 3.2: Capital investment aligned to Regional Transport Plans.
Objective 3.3: Capital investment aligned to regional energy plans / strategies.
The South West Wales response to this high level framework is three regional Anchor Projects aligned to the programme priorities, to provide a suite of small scale business and economic infrastructure related funding programmes, along with complementary business support and skills provision for businesses and organisations on a consistent regional basis.
SWWCJC is now issuing a call for expressions of interest for larger capital schemes (over £500,000) with regional economic impact for activities over and above those contained in our Anchor delivery. Limited revenue funding may also be available. Duplication of Anchor provision is not invited. If your project is of a smaller scale, you are invited to explore the range of funding options available via our regional anchor provision.
Projects must be in a position to be completed by 31 December 2028.
Feasibility work may only be funded where this is going to lead to physical project delivery within the programme timeframe.
Projects must align with both the South West Wales Regional Economic Delivery Plan and Welsh Government’s Local Growth Fund priorities.
Projects will be assessed against the following headline criteria:
Fit with national and regional economic development strategies
Fit with the Welsh Government Local Growth Fund priorities
Deliverability within LGF programme timescale
Need and demand
Financial viability
Economic Impact
Social value and inclusion
Environmental Sustainability
Risk and mitigation
Long term legacy
Alignment with other major funding streams (e.g. Local Innovation Partnership Fund)
Disclaimer
Submission of an expression of interest does not guarantee funding. The expression of interest process will not itself approve any project or confer any entitlement to funding.
All expressions of interest received will be assessed against the criteria set out above and the final decisions on a prioritised list of proposals moving forward to the next stage of the application process will be made by the SWWCJC.
Proposals invited to proceed to full application stage will be subject to further due diligence and any subsequent funding approvals will remain subject to the relevant decision-making requirements of the SWWCJC.
Information Requirements and Timelines
Please provide summary details in the Expression of Interest online form. The template is provided to assist interested parties in providing relevant information but is not a formal application and is not intended to require substantial supporting information (this can be provided but may not be reviewed at this stage in the process).
The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest via ‘this link’ is 31 October 2026 - Please complete a separate form for each project.
